Recent figures from the MBIE International Visitor Survey show that in 2024, international tourists brought $12.2 billion into New Zealand’s economy, marking a 23% increase, or $2.3 billion, from the previous year.

Spending by international visitors during the final quarter of the year rose by 20% year-over-year to reach $3.2 billion.

“The IVS data follows hard on the heels of last week’s Tourism Satellite Account data(opens in new window) for the year to March 2024 which showed international tourism continuing to bounce back, following the pandemic handbrake.

“Increased spending by international visitors has a significant impact for New Zealand. This encouraging trend in spending drives export earnings, but it also contributes to the success of local businesses and communities, and creates employment opportunities,” Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Rene de Monchy said. “This is a crucial part of supporting a productive and sustainable tourism industry.”

For the full year of 2024, the leading contributors to tourism spending were Australia with $3.48 billion (a 2.9% increase), the USA with $1.66 billion (up 20.6%), and China with $1.41 billion (a rise of 146.9%). Additionally, 32% of international tourists on holiday visited four or more different regions.

In 2024, international holidaymakers spent a total of $7.5 billion, which is a 30% increase from the year before.

During the quarter, nearly one-third of these holiday visitors explored a culturally significant Māori site, and New Zealand’s natural beauty remained a top draw for tourists throughout the year.

The appeal of New Zealand remained strong, with 97% of visitors in the October to December period stating that the country either met or surpassed their expectations.

“After ending 2024 on a high, I’m confident that the 2025 tourism season will be filled with many more exceptional experiences and memories for visitors to seek out and share with friends and family when they get back home,” Mr de Monchy said. 

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